OAR 660-006-0031: Youth Camps

(1) A youth camp may be established in compliance with the provisions of this rule. The purpose of this rule is to provide for the establishment of a youth camp that is generally self-contained and located on a parcel suitable to limit potential impacts on nearby and adjacent land and to be compatible with the forest environment. (2) Changes to or expansions of youth camps established prior to the effective date of this rule shall be subject to the provisions of ORS 215.130. (3) A "youth camp" is a facility either owned or leased, and operated by a state or local government, or a nonprofit corporation as defined under ORS 65.001, to provide an outdoor recreational and educational experience primarily for the benefit of persons 21 years of age and younger. Youth camps do not include any manner of juvenile detention center or juvenile detention facility. (4) An application for a proposed youth camp shall comply with the following: (a) The number of overnight camp participants that may be accommodated shall be determined by the governing body, or its designate, based on the size, topography, geographic features and any other characteristics of the proposed site for the youth camp. Except as provided by subsection (4)(b) of this rule a youth camp shall not provide overnight accommodations for more than 350 youth camp participants, including staff. (b) The governing body, or its designated may allow up to eight (8) nights during the calendar year when the number of overnight participants may exceed the total number of overnight participants allowed under subsection (4)(a) of this rule. (c) Overnight stays for adult programs primarily for individuals over 21 years of age, not including staff, shall not exceed 10 percent of the total camper nights offered by the youth camp. (d) The provisions of OAR 660-006-0025(5)(a). (e) A campground as described in ORS 215.283(2)(c), 215.213(2)(e) and OAR 660-006-0025(4)(e) shall not be established in conjunction with a youth camp. (f) A youth camp shall not be allowed in conjunction with an existing golf course. (g) A youth camp shall not interfere with the exercise of legally established water rights on adjacent properties. (5) The youth camp shall be located on a lawful parcel that is: (a) Suitable to provide a forested setting needed to ensure a primarily outdoor experience without depending upon the use or natural characteristics of adjacent and nearby public and private land. This determination shall be based on the size, topography, geographic features and any other characteristics of the proposed site for the youth camp, as well as, the number of overnight participants and type and number of proposed facilities. A youth camp shall be located on a parcel of at least: (A) 80-acres if located in eastern Oregon. (B) 40-acres if located in western Oregon. (b) Suitable to provide a protective buffer to separate the visual and audible aspects of youth camp activities from other nearby and adjacent lands. The buffers shall consist of forest vegetation, topographic or other natural features as well as structural setbacks from adjacent public and private lands, roads, and riparian areas. The structural setback from roads and adjacent public and private property shall be 250 feet unless the governing body, or its designate sets a different setback based upon the following criteria that may be applied on a case-by-case basis: (A) The proposed setback will prevent conflicts with commercial resource management practices; (B) The proposed setback will prevent a significant increase in safety hazards associated with vehicular traffic; and (C) The proposed setback will provide an appropriate buffer from visual and audible aspects of youth camp activities from other nearby and adjacent resource lands. (c) Suitable to provide for the establishment of sewage disposal facilities without requiring a sewer system as defined in OAR 660-011-0060(1)(f). Prior to granting final approval, the governing body or its designate shall verify that a proposed youth camp will not result in the need for a sewer system. (d) Predominantly forestland if within a mixed agricultural/forest zone as provided for under OAR 660-006-0050. (6) A youth camp may provide for the following facilities: (a) Recreational facilities limited to passive improvements, such as open areas suitable for ball fields, volleyball courts, soccer fields, archery or shooting ranges, hiking and biking trails, horse back riding or swimming that can be provided in conjunction with the site's natural environment. Intensively developed facilities such as tennis courts, gymnasiums, and golf courses shall not be allowed. One swimming pool may be allowed if no lake or other water feature suitable for aquatic recreation is located on the subject property or immediately available for youth camp use. (b) Primary cooking and eating facilities shall be included in a single building. Except in sleeping quarters, the governing body, or its designate, may allow secondary cooking and eating facilities in one or more buildings designed to accommodate other youth camp activities. Food services shall be limited to the operation of the youth camp and shall be provided only for youth camp participants. The sale of individual meals may be offered only to family members or guardians of youth camp participants. (c) Bathing and laundry facilities except that they shall not be provided in the same building as sleeping quarters. (d) Up to three camp activity buildings, not including primary cooking and eating facilities. (e) Sleeping quarters including cabins, tents or other structures. Sleeping quarters may include toilets, but, except for the caretaker's dwelling, shall not include kitchen facilities. Sleeping quarters shall be provided only for youth camp participants and shall not be offered as overnight accommodations for persons not participating in youth camp activities or as individual rentals. (f) Covered areas that are not fully enclosed. (g) Administrative, maintenance and storage buildings; permanent structure for administrative services, first aid, equipment and supply storage, and for use as an infirmary if necessary or requested by the applicant. (h) An infirmary may provide sleeping quarters for the medical care provider (e.g. Doctor, Registered Nurse, Emergency Medical Technician, etc.). (i) A caretaker's residence may be established in conjunction with a youth camp prior to or after June 14, 2000, if no other dwelling exists on the subject property. (7) A proposed youth camp shall comply with the following fire safety requirements: (a) The fire siting standards in OAR 660-006-0035; (b) A fire safety protection plan shall be developed for each youth camp that includes the following: (A) Fire prevention measures; (B) On site pre-suppression and suppression measures; and (C) The establishment and maintenance of fire safe area(s) in which camp participants can gather in the event of a fire. (c) Except as determined under subsection (7)(d) of this rule, a youth camp's on-site fire suppression capability shall at least include: (A) A 1000 gallon mobile water supply that can access all areas of the camp; (B) A 30 gallon-per-minute water pump and an adequate amount of hose and nozzles; (C) A sufficient number of fire fighting hand tools; and (D) Trained personnel capable of operating all fire suppression equipment at the camp during designated periods of fire danger. (d) An equivalent level of fire suppression facilities may be determined by the governing body, or its designate. The equivalent capability shall be based on the Oregon Department of Forestry's (ODF) Wildfire Hazard Zone rating system, the response time of the effective wildfire suppression agencies, and consultation with ODF personnel if the camp is within an area protected by ODF and not served by a local structural fire protection provider. (e) The provisions of OAR 660-006-0031(7)(d) may be waived by the governing body, or its designate, if the youth camp is located in an area served by a structural fire protection provider and that provider informs the governing body in writing that on-site fire suppression at the camp is not needed. (8) The governing body, or its designate, shall require as a condition of approval of a youth camp, that the land owner of the youth camp sign and record in the deed records for the county a document binding the land owner, or operator of the youth camp if different from the owner, and the land owner's or operator's successors in interest, prohibiting them from pursuing a claim for relief or cause of action alleging injury from farming or forest practices for which no action or claim is allowed under ORS 30.936 or 30.937. (9) Nothing in this rule relieves governing bodies from complying with other requirements contained in the comprehensive plan or implementing land use regulations such as the requirements addressing other resource values (e.g. Goal 5) that exist on forest lands. (10) The provisions of this rule shall apply directly to any land use decision pursuant to ORS 197.646 and 215.427(3) commencing October 12, 2000. A county may adopt provisions in its comprehensive plan or land use regulations that establish standards and criteria in addition to those set forth in this rule, or to ensure compliance with any standards or criteria.